Nicola Sturgeon vowed to fight for independence as she was crowned party leader.
The first-minister-in-waiting said the job was to persuade No voters to back the cause through respectful and intelligent debate.
Ms Sturgeon, who took over the leadership unopposed, threw down a marker for what she plans at the opening of the SNP conference in Perth.
She has the backing of Dundee East MP Stewart Hosie who was elected as deputy leader with 55.5% backing in the second round of a ballot using the single transferable vote.
Ms Sturgeon told delegates she wanted the party to keep making the case for independence.
“I believe today as strongly as I ever have that we should be independent and I believe today as strongly as I ever have, perhaps more strongly than I ever have, that we will be independent,” she told delegates to rapturous applause.
“That will only happen when the majority of our fellow citizens vote for that in a referendum. Our task remains as it has always been not to impose our will, not to berate those who disagree with us, but to persuade.
“To respectfully and intelligently through the power of our actions to persuade the majority of our fellow Scots that for the betterment of our country, the way to build a more prosperous and more successful country, a fairer society, is for us to become an independent country. That is our plan.”
Ms Sturgeon said she was “overwhelmed by a feeling of privilege and responsibility” at taking over from Alex Salmond who she declared was an “outstanding” party leader and first minister.
She challenged activists to win next May’s general election in Scotland as a way of ensuring that Westminster follows through on the pledge for more powers for Holyrood.
“When the SNP is strong, Scotland is strong, our voice will be heard and our interests will be protected,” she said.
“Make no mistake – I want the Westminster parties to hear this loudly and clearly – with a strong team of SNP MPs at Westminster there will be no hiding place.
“That vow, that promise for more powers will be delivered, it will be delivered in full.”